CHOOSING SIDES

Barry O'Farrell has declared his support for same-sex marriage and urged his federal colleagues to get behind it.

Tony Abbott has made it clear he personally doesn't support it, but the Liberal party room may decide to allow a conscience vote nevertheless.

The winds are shifting on the issue. The passing of legislation in New Zealand, along with the standing ovation and singing that followed, again demonstrated this.

Watching from Australia, ALP strategists likely realised that they have missed a golden opportunity. The government's support of same-sex marriage has been lukewarm until now. A private members' bill was put up to Parliament last year, but (subject to a conscience vote and Coalition opposition) it was always destined to fail.

Marriage equality is official ALP party policy. Perhaps it's time to make it government policy.

Nick FeikPoliticoz Editor

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Gillard Signals Flexibility On Gonski Deals

“Prime Minister Julia Gillard is standing firm on her signature school reforms despite not one state committing to the multibillion-dollar joint funding agreement before Friday's Council of Australian Governments meeting in Canberra.”

“The Gillard government has abandoned a comprehensive free-trade agreement with China to focus on a ‘trimmed-down’ agriculture deal, prompting Beijing to ask for its state-owned enterprises to be allowed to invest up to $1 billion in Australia without requiring Foreign Investment Review Board approval.”

Terrorism: How We Manage It Differently Now

“Let’s clear something up. Our responses to terrorism are not about the loss of innocent life. We think they are because that's the first thing we talk about. We use the suffering of victims to emote, and we look at the attacks through that prism. But it's never really about the victims. It’s about us.”